Station indicator



NOV. 13, 1951 B. B, K|RBY l 2,575,174

STATION INDICATOR l Filed June 16, 1947 2 SHEETS--SHEET l `means operably drivenfmby thezcar axle fas.: it

Patented Nov. 3, 1951' UNITED ylents 1T 0F-FICE ifl Claims. 1

lThis invention rentes-'to railway-stationnaicators for mail Carfaarid has particular reference t a Station idicatr Sutb'lfi ldi'catig'to the mail clerk the appah f the'tarita non-stop mail station. y

YOn most railway systems where inail is carried provision is iiiade `for non-stop.v stations Ywhere mail is deliv're'daiidpicked up mechanically. When these nen-stopV stations are be'rig approached the inail to be delivered to that particular station must'ibe Yth1"oi7vn.;from the VCarso that it will land Withinapredetermined zone relative to the station. "Furthermore, a pick-up hook is positioned on the train to take up the outgoing mail from-the station. ByY means `ftliis station indicator the mail clerkwill .be notified either audiblyorfvisually f'thetrains approach to the railroad station so that he` willhave sutilcient time to properly position thepick-unand delivery mechanism. n y

The principal object of,the.present invention is the provision ofa station indicator than-will automatically indicate `the .approachl -ofwa train to certain stations .throughout its'k entire run .or division. A K n Another object of this invention is the-provifsion of a means for indicatingnonstop stations by a means directly interconnected and-driven by rotates. s y

A further object of the presentinvention.isthe provision of a station indicator includingwa;.film driving means operable to' move'said lmineither of two directionsacross the face ofv` the" indicator. Another object ofthe Dresentinventionis the .provisionof a filml roll carrying indiciapto .'desig;

nate non-stop stationsalong the railwayroute and means associatedwithesaid film :andacontrolled thereby to indicate tothe mail clerk:- the approach of the train to-geach; of said non-stop stations.

Other objectsv are simplicity and economy-:of construction, ease of operation,.andfv adaptability for use to indicate the approach of theatrain to any or al1 thevrailway .stations along arggiven route. e

With thesevobjects-in viewias wellfasfother objects which will appear during thecoursegof the specification, reference will nowlvbeghadtoftlie drawings wherein: 4

Figure 1 is a front elevation of al'ailwayf'sta= tion indicatorfor ma-il car-,s .show-ing diagrammatically its connection-withl ther..ax1ef'c ff af inail car, and embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged :cross-sectionalviewtaken Online HIIofFig'urel'... f,

Fig. 3 is van eniargedf front View of the station findicatorwith the front ofl t-he-A housing broken laway 4and Vsome ofthe parts omitted.

41P-ig, -4 is a=horizontalsectionalview taken-0n line- IV-IV of 'Figure 3.

'Fig 5 is a reduced foreshortened sectionalvi'ew Figl- Gis. an enlarged sectional viewl of the drive Fig '7i is-anlenlarg'edlf fragmentary 4view off the shifting mechanism -`-with-partsinsection.

y Fig! Bis-'a fragmentary-'sectional view taken von Fig. 9 is a diagrammaticviewf of" the electric `circuit.

:Fig 10 is` enf-enlargedfragmentary sectional l'Throughout theseveraiviewsf-off the "drawings l.likereferenceY characters'refer to fsiinilar parts :andi theL numeral I-- designates ai housing or' cab'- inet et elongated and substantially rectangular shape hav-ing `lareincvble: cover mein-ber I2l Vvtti facilitate'adjustment-#arid positioning of theparts within the cabi-net; T-lief'ront'face'of thecabiriet is cut away at I4' toi form' an openingl forY the'l-re'fception4 of na Avpanel'i 6. Thisfpanel*isdelohgated and tted to---exteiidjr acinajor length of'thecabjf inet adjacent its central-portion. elongatedv :spacedapart from thebodyy of the pa'nelto 'prei sent grooVesZZ; The'sef-grooves-are oppsitly vspaceotto receive the' marginal edgesof ai'liiif which is perforatedlat' zalong its marginaldgs tofreceivetheteeth 2t of driving rollers'iil. These driving rollers 3B @are alike-const1uction-arid are each provided with an axially disposed shaft l32 whichextend outwardly from the 'e'hdsgoff the rollers' for insertionl yinian upper 'bearingbox 34 and a lower bearling block 136; These 'driving rollers are --mounted respectivelyat oppositeeids 'of cabinet I 0 andareSol-positioned that 'theyare in alf common' plane tangenttoj their* -outer'pe 'ripheriea and this;x common planeeoincidesf-with theoiiter face off- `panel`-` t6, lso-that' lrn EIL-when mounted for driving action on drive rollers; will lie Ygrcovesz toV lmove over '-thei face: of panel I6. 'Inteimediateethelower-Hend-y ofe'cii ofirollers Sfand the vadj acentbea-iig block? Sliisv beveledgeai 38,-Wlchis`-`e`d tdi-S ftZ l:iltl rotatable with! the adjacent roller. fifr'icdu 4U dise posed vfat-right anglesto shaftZ its ai" in-= tersecting theaxisof-saidl shaft, inountjed n spaced relation aboveithe btteini f* cabinet I'nfwitn `its, kopposite-vendi potiiis iiiiedlin bear# ing blocks 36. A sleeve 44 is slidably mounted on rod 40 and is supported adjacent its central portion by spaced apart bearings 46. A worm gear 48 is positioned between bearings 46 and is mounted for rotation with sleeve 44 and is secured thereto by means of key 50 which allows for longitudinal movement of the sleeve relative to rod 40. Mounted on the right end of sleeve 44 is a beveled pinion 52 which is x-ed to said sleeve and adapted to rotate therewith. Referring to Fig-ure 5, it will be noted that pinion 52 is in mesh with one of the gears 38 for driving the adjacent roller 30. A beveled pinion 54 secured to the opposite end of sleeve 44 is spaced out of mesh with the adjacent gear 38 as shown. Means for shifting sleeve 44 along rod 40 comprises an operating lever 56 pivoted to a bracket 58 by means of pin 60. Lever 56 extends through an opening 62 formed through the front Wall of -cabinet l and is bifurcated at E4 and provided the body of sleeve 'I0 which is afxed to sleeve 44 by means of set screw |2. The outer extremity of lever 56 extends through opening 62 and beyond the front face of cabinet |0 whereby it may serve as a hand grip for operating the shifting parts. It will be noted by referring to Figure 8 that lever 56 is recessed at '|4 to receive a spring '|6 and a ball '|8 which form a resilient detent to engage in recesses 80 formed in the front wall of cabinet |0 for maintaining the lever arm in selected predetermined positions.

It will be noted that when the detent is in the position shown the drive pinion 52 will be intermeshed to drive the adjacent driving roller 30. When the detent is moved to the central position, neither of the pinions will be in mesh and the drive rollers 30 Will be free to be moved in `Aeither direction. When the lever is moved so .that detent 'I8 engages the right hand recess 80. pinion 54 will be in mesh with gear 38 to drive the other driving roller 30. It is quite apparent that cpinion 52 will drive the tape in a right hand direction while the pinion 54 will Adrive the tape in a left hand direction, as viewed from the front of the cabinet.

The means for driving gear 48 and sleeve 44 is shown more or less diagrammatically and may consist of a gear 82 rigidly mounted on car axle 84 which carries a bearing plate 86 in which is `carried a spur gear 88 disposed in mesh with gear 82. Aixed to axle 90 of gear 88 and ro- .tatable therewith is a flexible drive member 92 which extends to coupling 94 by means of which it is rigidly attached to shaft 98 on which is fixed a worm drive 98. This shaft is mounted adjacent each end of Worm 98 in a bearing block |00. Worm 98 is intermeshed with the driving gear or worm wheel 48 so that the driving of the drive rollers 30 is in a constant ratio to the travel of the car wheels -on the track, thus it is possible to indicate as herein set forth, the exact position of the film tape 24 on the indicator as indicated by the position of the train along its route. A take-up drum |02 rotatably mounted in cabinet |0 adjacent its right end is disposed with its axis of rotation in parallel relation with the axis of driving roller 30, and a take-up drum |04 is likewise mounted at the left end of the cabinet to take up the lm fed oi when the pinion 54 is in mesh and driving the feed roller 30. When pinion 52 is driving the lm it will drive it in the ,directionY indicated by the arrow and the lm will be drawn on' of take-up druni |04 and will be wound on drum |02. In order to rotate the drums |02 and |04 in the proper direction for winding the film thereon, the following mechanism is provided: A tension spring |06 secured at its one end to the left end wall of cabinet |0 by means of a hook |08 is attached at its other end to a cable ||0 which passes over a sheave wheel I2, rotatably mounted in a bracket ||4 which in turn is secured to the right end wall of the cabinet. This cable is fixed to and passes about the axle H6 of drum |02 is a direction whereby when the film is delivered from the drive roller 30 as indicated by the arrows, spring |05 will contract and cause a rotation of drum |02 to wind the film thereon. Drum |04 is provided with a similar spring driving means including a tensioned spring H8 secured at its one end by a hook |20 secured to the right end wall of cabinet |0 and at its other end to a cable |22 which passes over a sheave wheel |24 mounted for rotation in a bracket |26 which in turn is secured to the left end wall of the cabinet.

It will be noted that when the film is being moved as indicated, the cable |22 will be wound about axle |28 of drum |02 thus energizing spring ||8 so that when the end of the run has been reached and it is desired to reverse the direction of travel of the tape, the spring I8 will be fully energized to take up the film as it is fed to the left by the action of driving pinion 54.

Film 24 is made of an electrical insulating material and is utilized to normally maintain two switch members open as shown in one portion of the electric circuit shown in Figure 9.

Panel |6 is made of an electrical insulating material, and is provided adjacent its upper extremity with an opening |30 into which is tted a spring contact member |32 secured at its one end by means of bolt |34 to panel I6. This member |32 normally rests against the inner face of film 24, however, lm 24 is provided with an opening |36 to indicate certain nonstop stations and is adapted to register with the opening |30 as the film is moved length- Wise'of the device and when these openings are in register the contact member |32 will move down to contact the stationary contact member |38 which is secured to the panel member I6. Adjacent the lower portion of nlmv 24. panel I6 is provided with an opening |40. A spring contact member |42 is disposed with its one end in hole |40 to normally contact the inner face of lm 24. This contact member is secured by means of bolt |44. A stationary contact member |46 is normally separated from contact |42 as suggested above; however, the film is also provided with a seriesvof openings |48 which move in alignment with opening |40 and will register therewith as the film is driven, thus making it possible to close contact members |42 and |46 at predetermined positions of the film in its travel. Y -Y Indicia |50 are provided along the central transverse line of the lxn and are adapted to pass over the elongated slot or window I8 of the panel and be lighted by means of a suitable electric light |52 disposed in cabinet |8 adjacent window I8 so that the indicia will be readilyvisible to the mail clerk. It is the intention of the applicant to position these indicia so that they will be adjacent the central portion of the indicator as the indicated town is reached. For instance, as shown in Figure 3. the lm is being driven' in the direction indi-idescribed. .This 'signal is u attende v'5 cated by thearrow and Vthedicnsto'p town Roe is being approached, andasshown, the parts .are 11.1. the vestige es. shown .in Eagle191. S vthat 'the signals will be ope fas hereinafter Y AHVv civ-@gamut a mile prior to tharrival at theffstation there- OI When the station-is reached the ind iaRoe have moved f'r\`1s`(a .rdly to bstantially ythe center portion' of the ind icator, }and .fthe contact member |32 willhave'been raised andfseparated from the'station'ary contactlpoint 32, *thus opening the. circuit so'thatthe. .signaling device will be inactive. This"'sa rni e sequencelvwill be followed as vthe various non-,stop stationsffare approached.

Referring to the indicia Doe in Figure 3, it will be noted that its corresponding film opening |36 is disposed slightly in advance thereof. Ori the return trip when the film is moving in the opposite direction, that is, to the left, as indicated in Figure 3, the approach to the town will be from the opposite direction, therefore, it becomes necessary to provide the openings |48 which precede the adjacent indicia, thus making it possible to notify the mail clerk of' the approach of the train to the non-stop station indicated. It is quite apparent that due to some irregularities in distances traveled beyond the station points at the l end of the run, it might be necessary to readjust the starting point from the'station and in order to accomplish this, the lever member 56 is adjusted to the central portion so that the operator may move the iilm to its correct position and then set the proper driving pinion in operative relation with the beveled gear 38 to drive the film and indicate the stations being approached in their proper sequences.

For convenience of setting the film, it will be noted that the shafts 32 are provided with squared extensions |54 which may be engaged by the crank arm |56 for rotating the proper drive roller for setting.

An audible signaling device such as an electric bell |53 and a visual signal I 60 such as an electric light are provided to indicate the approach of the train to the railway station.

Referring to Figure 9, it will be noted that the battery |62 is connected at its one terminal through wire |64 to contact member |46 and also with contact member |38 through wire |66 which joins wire |64. The other terminal of battery |52 is connected by wire |68 to lamp |60, bell |58 and member |42. Wire |10 connects member |32 with wire |68 so that the signaling devices will be both operable whenever either the member |32 or |42 make contact with their respective contacts |38 or |46.

A Wedge |12 slidably adjustable in housing I0 serves to be positioned between member |32 and panel I6 to prevent |32 from contacting member |38 when the film 24 is being moved to the left, also a wedge |14, best shown in Figure 10, is also slidably mounted in housing I to be moved to and from the position behind member |42 to control its contact with contact member |46.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A station indicating device for a vehicle comprising an apertured cabinet adapted to be mounted on said vehicle, a pair of spaced apart driving rollers carried rotatably in said cabinet, a roll of film of insulating material operatively associated with said driving rollers whereby said film is moved before the aperture of said cabinet, means for driving said rollers whereby the speed f of said film is :synchronized '.withf the speed oflsa'id vehicle, an: electric alarm lcircuit including two. pairs of vterminal contacts connected -in parallel, thecontacts of Veach of said pairs' being disposed respectively on opposite sides of said film and resiliently urgedtogether, said film having a pairof apertures-therein.corresponding with eachstation indicated thereon and adapted by' themovement of: said film'to be brought respec tively between said pairs of contacts, thereby permittingengagemen-t of-said pairs oi contacts, and means for selectivelyfurging said pairs ofcon tactsout of engagement with vsaid film.

2. A station indicating device for a vehicle comprising anaperturednicabinet adapted to be mounted on said vehicle, a pair of spaced apart driving rollers carried rotatably-in-said cabinet, arzroll offfilm of insulating-.material operatively associated with said driving rollersewhereby said lm is moved before the aperture of said cabinet, means for driving said rollers whereby the speed of said lm is synchronized with the speed of said vehicle, an electric alarm circuit including two pairs of terminal contacts connected in parallel, the contacts of each of said pairs being disposed respectively on opposite sides of said film and resiliently urged together, said film having a pair of apertures therein corresponding with each station indicated thereon, said pair of apertures being disposed respectively on opposite sides of said station indication longitudinally of said film and out of alignment transversely of said film, and adapted by the movement of said film to be brought respectively between said pairs of contacts, thereby permitting engagement of said pairs of contacts, and manually operable means for selectively urging said pairs of contacts out of engagement with said film.

l3. A station indicating device for a vehicle comprising an apertured cabinet adapted to be mounted on said vehicle, a pair of spaced apart driving rollers carried rotatively in said cabinet, a roll of film of insulating material operatively associated with said driving rollers whereby said film is moved before the aperture of said cabinet, means for driving said rollers whereby the speed of said film is synchronized with the speed of said vehicle, an electric alarm circuit including two pairs of terminal contacts connected in parallel, the contacts of each of said pairs being disposed respectively on opposite sides of said lm and resiliently urged together, said film having a pair of apertures therein corresponding with each station indicated thereon, said pair of apertures being disposed respectively on opposite sides ofvsaid station indication longitudinally of said film and out of alignment transversely of said film, and adapted by the -movement of said lm to be brought respectively between said pairs of contacts thereby permitting engagement of said pairs of contacts, and a pair of wedges carried movably by said cabinet and manually operable to selectively urge one or the other of said pairs of 'contacts out of engagement with said film.

4. In a vehicle station indicator device of the class described including a film carried by said vehicle and means for driving said film in synchronism with the speed of said vehicle, an electric alarm circuit including two pairs of terminal contacts, the contacts of each of said pairs being disposed respectively on opposite sides of saidv film and resiliently urged against said fllm and normallyheld out of contact by said l-m, said lm having stations indicated thereon and a pair of apertures formed therethrough adjacent each station indication, said apertures being disposed on opposite sides of said station indication longitudinally of said lm and respectively adjacent opposite edges of said film, said apertures being adapted by the movement of said film to be brought respectively between said two pairs of contacts to permit engagement of said pairs of contacts, means for reversing the travel of said lm to correspond with the direction the vehicle travels over the route indicated on said lm, and manual means for selectively urging one or the other of said pairs of contacts out of engagement with said lm.

BENJAMIN B. KIRBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 111e of this patent:

8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Christy June 18, 1889 Murphy Nov. 4, 1890 Morgan Sept. 16, 1902 Angell Feb. 11, 1913 Sullivan i Feb. 9, 1915 Coleman et al. Apr. 7, 1925 Beery et al. Nov. 3, 1925 Weeks Mar. 13, 1928 Self Apr. 30, 1929 Kirby Aug. 20, 1929 Windsor Dec. 3, 1929 Rullman Apr. 12, 1932 

